We are an independent, non-partisan organization devoted to the formation of all Catholics, and others of good will, for full civic participation in accordance with the social teachings of the Catholic Church. We want to bring Gospel values to the center of public discourse.

As Catholics, we believe our vote is an act of moral vision—a gift to our community. We must discern our votes prayerfully and thoughtfully, through the lens of Catholic social teaching. Not sure where to start? Try comparing the parties’ platforms here.

Through its social teachings, the Church has provided guidance for the building of just societies in a very wide variety of forms. Forms of governance, economic structures, international relations, and mechanisms for empowering each individual to have a voice and to seek truth in their own way are all addressed, so that whatever the global and contemporary context, we are not left to grope or wander in the dark.

The 2019 Federal Election will take place on or before October 21st. We are working to get Catholic voters to the polls, and to ensure they’re prepared when they get there. Look here for the ways we can help, and to volunteer!

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Conscience Conversations

Matt: Brendan, in one of our recent Facebook postings, you posed an important question relating to that most elusive of all Catholic social teachings, the principle of “subsidiarity”— which the official Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church describes

Brendan: “How many saints have we never heard of?” I remember reading that once, Matt, and I’ve been thinking about it lately as we’ve watched the extraordinary heroism of everyday love which has emerged globally with the COVID-19 pandemic. This

At Catholic Conscience we like to speak in terms of the principles, values, and virtues of Catholic social thought, since they tend to consist of broad, positive, general exhortations to seek and do good. The Church has also stressed, however,

Brendan: I’m writing this on March 28th. I feel the need to say that to contextualize this Conscience Conversation—every day it seems like the COVID-19 crisis is evolving in rapid, new, and terrifying ways. For a reader perusing this at a

Happy and Blessed New Year! To all who have accompanied us on this year’s journey, we write today in heartfelt thanks for an overwhelming 2019. Really, the input you provided and the success it enabled were beyond reasonable expectation. Thanks

Brendan: There’s so much to deconstruct about Canada’s recent federal election, but from a Catholic perspective there’s a big question that has emerged in my mind and I want to pose it to you: Is Canadian politics suspicious of Catholics?

News Feed

UN 2019 Emissions Gap Report

CARE FOR CREATION. For the first time, an annual UN study shows signs of hope as well as dire warnings in the deepening climate emergency. This year's Emissions Gap Report, which tracks global progress in meeting internationally-agreed emissions standers, the UN describes the current outlook as "bleak." "Countries collectively failed to stop the growth in global GHG emissions," the UN says, "meaning that deeper and faster cuts are now required."

However, the report also offers some glimmers of hope: "behind the grim headlines, a more differentiated message emerges from the ten-year summary. A number of encouraging developments have taken place and the political focus on the climate crisis is growing in several countries, with voters and protestors, particularly youth, making it clear that it is their number one issue. In addition, the technologies for rapid and cost-effective emission reductions have improved
significantly."

Pope Francis has repeatedly warned us that climate change an emergency faced by all humanity, and that failure to act now may well have "catastrophic" consequences.

With Pope Francis, let us pray for ourselves, that individually and collectively we might become better stewards of the vineyard entrusted to us by the Master:

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace...

Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.